Going to college is an exciting time in a young person's life! Whether they're beginning their college career, in the middle of it, or ending their college years, one thing is key in order to be successful and tackle those upcoming semesters: be prepared!

﻿Shopping for college may seem like a huge chore, especially if you're moving away from home for the first time. How do you know what to bring? Where do you start? Fortunately, here at Mountainside Medical Equipment, we know a thing or two about preparation for college, ﻿and ﻿we even offer products to help you feel fully ready to begin a fresh, new year!

Below, we've compiled a list of items that we feel are essential for any college student! Aside from the obvious notebooks, pens, paper, highlighters, computer, and bookbag that you'll need, here are some other products that may slip your mind as you embark on your next adventure.

Cleaning Supplies

- Paper Towels

- Mini Vacuum

- Dish Soap

Moving on to...

Laundry Supplies

- Laundry Detergent: if you've never done laundry before, and are a little worried about how to use detergent, the laundry detergent pods may work best for you. They are pre-portioned out, and all you have to do is toss them in!

Note: of course, when you're packing, you're going to want to bring your entire closet with you, but here's a tip: hold off on bringing any winter clothing until Thanksgiving break time. Now, this does depend on where you go to college, and when winter starts, but be smart about what clothes to bring. Remember, your closet space is not that large.

Now onto the basic necessities that ﻿every ﻿student should have!

Basic Necessities

- Desk lamp, bulbs & batteries

- Flashlights

- Umbrella, rain boots, raincoat - it is a guarantee you will need all three!

- Snow Boots {again, don't bring these until November. You won't need them right away, and you'll want to save as much space as you can.}

Miscellaneous Tips for a Successful Semester

As silly as it sounds, this is a crucial tip: make a habit of practicing good hygiene! Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, wipe public computers down, use some disinfecting wipes often. Sickness, especially the cold and flu, can spread like wildfire across campus. It's extremely common in the dorm halls, classrooms, and libraries, so sanitization will become your best friend.

Theft is unfortunately a common problem in the residence halls. Do not leave any valuable items unattended to. That includes, money, jewelry, cell phones, iPads, laptops, wallets, etc. Be sure to lock your dorm room as well as your car. If you're going home for a weekend, always take those valuable items with you.

Lastly, College can be an amazing time in your life, and it should be! If you're an incoming Freshman, it will be an entire new world for you, so soak it up and enjoy every moment! However; finding a balance between fun and studying is critical, so don't lose sight of that. Yes, you're going to experience a sense of freedom and independence that you may not be used to - the key is: don't abuse it. This is your future, after all.